Last year I wrote a carol for some singing workshops in Wakefield. This is it: Chantry Chapel Carol. I composed it as a partner song for the Yorkshire melody of The Holly and The Ivy. The song is now being rehearsed by several choirs in Northumberland and New Zealand for performance this Christmas, 2015. Have a listen!

The Chantry Chapel in Wakefield, dedicated to Saint Mary the Virgin, dates from the 14th century and is an integral part of the structure of Wakefield Bridge. Between the reformation in the 16th century and the 1840s the building was used for non-religious purposes, including some time as a library. It was also used as a warehouse, a tailor’s and a cheese-cake shop. I make reference to a couple of these other purposes in the lyrics of this carol.

Today the chapel is once again a chapel. Worship takes place there every month and the building is also open at certain times and by arrangement for visitors. Have a look! http://www.chantrychapelwakefield.org/

If you’d like to purchase copies of the score, have a look here: Chantry Chapel Carol for SATB choir

One choir asked for a version with no tenor part! Chantry Chapel Carol for SAB choir

One of the choirs rehearsing the piece asked me to prepare some learning tracks to help them with their practising. You might find them useful too! The part in question uses a loud sound (oboe, cor anglais, trombone) and the accompaniment and piano parts use a soft guitar sound

Bass:

Tenor:

Alto:

Soprano: